(19)
(11) EP 1 014 550 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
25.10.2000 Bulletin 2000/43

(43) Date of publication A2:
28.06.2000 Bulletin 2000/26

(21) Application number: 99650118.5

(22) Date of filing: 17.12.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: H02M 3/335, H02M 1/00, H02J 7/02, H02M 7/219
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 18.12.1998 IE 981075

(71) Applicant: FORFAS, (trading as PEI Technologies)
Dublin 2 (IE)

(72) Inventors:
  • Morrison, Richard Joseph
    South Douglas Road, Cork (IE)
  • Egan, Michael Gerard
    Shanakiel, Cork (IE)

(74) Representative: Weldon, Michael James et al
c/o John O'Brien & Associates, Third Floor, Duncairn House, 14 Carysfort Avenue
Blackrock, Co. Dublin
Blackrock, Co. Dublin (IE)

   


(54) An AC/DC converter


(57) An ac/dc converter has a two switch buck boost (2SBB) ac/dc stage (2) integrated with an isolated full or half-bridge dc/dc stage (3). A modulator (4, 25) for the 2SBB input switch (Q1) controls the current in the power transfer inductor of the 2SBB. It causes dis-continuity of the current while minimising its peak level by exerting control on both turn-on and turn-off of the input switch. An intermediate dc voltage generated by the 2SBB has a level below that of the maximum peak input voltage and control is exerted over the inrush current.






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